By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
The City of Ozark celebrated the reopening of the newly remodeled tennis courts and outdoor pickleball courts at Steagall Park during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Friday, May 22, at 10 a.m.
The ceremony also included the unveiling of a memorial plaque honoring the support and legacy of Jackie Murphy. Murphy, who served as grant writer for the city, dedicated a great deal of time and effort to get the ball rolling on the project. Sadly, Murphy passed away before she could see the fruits of her labor.
Mayor Charles Ward honored Murphy at the dedication, saying, “Jackie served the City of Ozark as our grant writer, but she was so much more than that. She was intelligent, dedicated, hardworking, and deeply committed to improving the lives of the people in this community.”
Ward continued, “Through her tireless efforts, Ozark received numerous grants that brought lasting benefits to our citizens that helped move our city forward.”
Ward also recognized Murphy’s courageous battle with cancer, pointing out that she did not allow her battle to stop her hard work.
“While courageously battling cancer, Jackie continued working on projects that would benefit others.”
After speaking, a plaque honoring Murphy’s hard work and legacy was unveiled to thunderous applause.
There were numerous city leaders and citizens in attendance for the ceremony, Including Carroll High School cheerleaders, members of the Ozark City Council, former Mayor Mark Blankenship, and many more.
The Dale County Chronicle spoke with Blankenship prior to the ceremony to ask how it felt to see the project finished.
“It was a long time coming, but it is good to see this project completed,” Blankenship said.
Community members gathered at the park to mark the completion of the renovations and the reopening of the recreational facilities ahead of the summer season. Residents were encouraged to bring tennis rackets and pickleball paddles and enjoy the updated courts with friends and family following the ceremony.
In its announcement leading up to the event, the city invited residents of all ages to attend and celebrate the reopening of the courts.
The ribbon cutting and memorial dedication marked the culmination of hard work and dedication to see the project come to fruition.
The plaque honoring the hard work and dedication of Jackie Murphy was unveiled Friday, May 22, during the reopening ceremony and dedication. Photo by Jeff Devine.
Director of Leisure Services Ozzie Maianeto speaks before crowds of people gathering at the ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony on Friday, May 22. Photo by Jeff Devine.
Ozark Mayor Charles Ward speaks about the hard work and dedication Jackie Murphy put into the project to renovate the Steagall Park Tennis Courts. Photo by Jeff Devine.
Kids play at the newly renovated tennis courts prior to the ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony. Photo by Jeff Devine.
